Portable drill pipe handling apparatus for use with oil and gas well drilling rigs

ABSTRACT

A pipe handling apparatus transfers successive lengths of drill pipe that are stored in a generally horizontal position on a pipe rack, to an elevated position on the rig deck of an oil and gas well drill rig. An elongated frame includes a base section with a folding section that can be inclined. Both the base and folding sections provide toothed racks. A trestle section travels from the base section toward the inclined section. Pinion gears at opposed end portions of the trestle section engage the toothed racks of the base and folding sections. The trestle section gradually increases in inclination as its front end portion travels toward and up hoisting rails of the inclined folding section. While the rear end of the trestle section remains on the base section, the front end portion of the trestle section climbs the toothed racks of the inclined rails.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

Priority of U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 60/956,815,filed 20 Aug. 2007, incorporated herein by reference, is hereby claimed.

STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH OR DEVELOPMENT

Not applicable

REFERENCE TO A “MICROFICHE APPENDIX”

Not applicable

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to oil and gas well drilling and to anapparatus for handling pipe that is used during oil and gas welldrilling (including geothermal and/or mineral drilling). Moreparticularly, the present invention relates to an improved pipe handlingapparatus for transferring successive lengths of drill pipe from a piperack to the deck of a drilling rig, wherein a moving section of theapparatus lifts pipe upwardly along an inclined path with a trestle thatis driven to travel upon a base or supporting frame, the trestlegradually increasing in inclination as it moves between a lowerbeginning position and an upper final inclined position that presentsthe length of the drill pipe to workers on the rig floor.

2. General Background of the Invention

During the drilling of oil and gas wells, an elongated “string” of pipeis made up of separate joints of pipe (e.g. drill pipe can be in lengthsof thirty feet (30′) (9.1 meters), casing typically in lengths of fortyfeet (40′) (12.2 meters) that are connected end to end during the “trip”into the well and as drilling progresses deeper and deeper into theearth. The lower end of the string carries a drill bit. These samejoints of pipe are each separated from the drill string one joint at atime when the drill string is removed from the well bore after such a“trip” into a well.

Drill pipe joints can be stored (e.g. horizontally) on pipe racks nextto the drill rig cat walk. Typically, the drill rig floor is at aconsiderably higher elevation than the pipe racks and cat walk. Manydrillers face the problem of transferring drill pipe from the pipe rackto the elevated rig deck.

One of the problems with the transportation of drill pipe is that ofmaintaining a proper orientation of the section of the drill piperelative to the rig floor, especially when it is about to be eitherremoved from the pipe transportation unit to the rig floor ortransferred from the rig floor back to the pipe transportation unit. Forexample, it is important that the pipe be oriented in the correctposition so that it can be elevated to lower the collar of the pipedirectly into waiting pipe elevators.

Another problem with the transportation of pipe racks to the drill flooris that the pipe is typically stacked in layers. This means that eachlayer must be unstacked one layer at a time. Pipe can be stacked manylayers thick especially if the drilling operation is going very deepinto the earth.

There have been numerous approaches to the task of transferring pipefrom a lower pipe rack to an upper, elevated rig floor. Some pipehandling devices are ground supported mechanical units. Others are truckunits with a main high line and a fast line to feed and retrieve thepipe trough.

The mechanical units are heavy and are designed for individual rigs.They remain with the drilling rig during drilling operations. The truckmounted units are more diversified and portable, but take up more spacebecause of the typically large truck portion of the apparatus.

Some patents have issued that are directed to the problem of conveyingoil and gas well drilling pipe joints from a pipe rack to the floor ofthe drilling rig. The following table lists possibly relevant patents,the order of listing having no significance.

TABLE 1 Issue Date Patent No. Title MM-DD-YYYY 4,235,566 Pipe ConveyingCatwalk 11-25-1980 4,403,898 Pipe Pick Up and Lay-down Machine09-13-1983 3,774,780 Portable Pipe Pick-Up, Conveying 11-27-1973 andRacking Device 4,040,524 Apparatus for Handling Pipe At Well 08-09-1977Site 4,081,087 Pipe Laydown and Pickup Machine 03-28-1978 4,610,315 PipeHandling Apparatus for Oil 09-09-1986 Drilling Operations 4,082,193 PipeHandling Apparatus 04-04-1978 2,656,052 Apparatus for Feeding Lengths of10-20-1953 Drill Pipe in Succession to the Drill Pipe Elevator of DrillRigs 3,464,507 Portable Rotary Drilling Pipe 09-02-1969 Handling System

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention differs from these prior art devices by providingan improved drill pipe conveyor.

The apparatus of the present invention comprises a pipe handlingapparatus for transferring successive lengths of drill pipe that arestored in a generally horizontal position on a pipe rack, to an elevatedposition on the rig deck of an oil and gas well drill rig. The apparatusincludes an elongated frame that includes a base section with a foldingsection that can be inclined. Both the base and folding sections providetoothed racks. A trestle section travels from the base section towardthe inclined section. Pinion gears at opposed end portions of thetrestle section engage the toothed racks of the base and foldingsections. The trestle section gradually increases in inclination as itsfront end portion travels toward and up hoisting rails of the inclinedfolding section. While the rear end of the trestle section remains onthe base section, the front end portion of the trestle section climbsthe toothed racks of the inclined rails. The trestle section carries atrough that cradles a section of drill pipe to be carried to the rigfloor. When the trestle section reaches its full upper position, therear end of the trough can be elevated to a generally horizontalposition using a hydraulically powered scissor lifting arrangement tomore properly position the drill pipe for receipt by the drill rig deckarea.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWINGS

For a further understanding of the nature and objects of the presentinvention, reference should be had to the following detaileddescription, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, inwhich like parts are given like reference numerals, and wherein:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a first embodiment of the apparatus ofthe present invention;

FIG. 2 is a partial side elevational view of the first embodiment of theapparatus of the present invention showing the main frame and foldingsection in folded position;

FIG. 3 is a side elevation view of the first embodiment of the apparatusof the present invention showing the folding section in an inclinedposition;

FIG. 4 is a partial elevational rear view of the first embodiment of theapparatus of the present invention showing the pick-up arms in a lowermost position;

FIG. 5 is a rear elevational view of the first embodiment of theapparatus of the present invention showing the pick-up arms in a loadingposition;

FIG. 6 is a partial, sectional rear view of the first embodiment of theapparatus of the present invention with jacks elevated;

FIG. 7 is a partial side elevational view of the first embodiment of theapparatus of the present invention with lift rails in folded position;

FIG. 8 is an elevational rear view of the first embodiment of theapparatus of the present invention showing the trough trestle in aninclined position;

FIG. 9 is a rear elevational view of the first embodiment of theapparatus of the present invention showing the trough in a tilted,generally horizontal position;

FIG. 10 is a side elevational view of the first embodiment of theapparatus of the present invention with trough trestle elevated;

FIG. 11 is a side view of the first embodiment of the apparatus of thepresent invention showing the pipe and trough elevated to a horizontalposition at the drilling rig floor;

FIG. 12 is a partial elevational view of the first embodiment of theapparatus of the present invention with trough trestle folded forshipping and jacks elevated;

FIG. 13 is a top view along lines 13-13 of FIG. 12;

FIG. 14 is a partial sectional fragmentary view of the front liftingrails and hinges;

FIG. 15 is a sectional view taken along lines 15-15 of FIG. 13 withsafety boot;

FIG. 16 is a partial sectional view of the first embodiment of theapparatus of the present invention illustrating the rubber tippedpneumatic safety pin portion thereof in activated position and travelingsafety boot;

FIG. 17 is a partial sectional elevational view of the first embodimentof the apparatus of the present invention with trough raised, scissorfolded;

FIG. 18 is a partial sectional elevational view of the first embodimentof the apparatus of the present invention with rear of trough raised byscissor system for pipe collar elevation on rig floor;

FIG. 19 is a fragmentary rear cross-sectional view of the firstembodiment of the apparatus of the present invention illustratingloading of a joint of pipe into the trough, gear racks and pinions;

FIG. 20 is a fragmentary rear cross-sectional view of the firstembodiment of the apparatus of the present invention illustrating theremoval of a joint of pipe from the trough with adjustable pickup or laydown arms;

FIG. 21 is a perspective view of the second embodiment of the apparatusof the present invention;

FIG. 22 is a side view of the second embodiment of the apparatus of thepresent invention shown in folded position;

FIG. 23 is a side view of the second embodiment of the apparatus of thepresent invention shown in unfolded, operating condition;

FIGS. 24-26 are fragmentary end views of the second embodiment of theapparatus of the present invention;

FIG. 27 is a partial, schematic side view of the second embodiment ofthe apparatus of the present invention with trough trestle raised andpipe/trough in delivery position;

FIG. 28 is a fragmentary side view of the second embodiment of theapparatus of the present invention showing hinges for folding liftingrails;

FIG. 29 is an elevation view of the second embodiment of the apparatusof the present invention with jacks raised for stacking pipe;

FIG. 30 is a plan view taken along lines 30-30 of FIG. 29 showing troughwith travel boot and pop up safety pins for pipe containment;

FIG. 31 is an end view taken along lines 31-31 of FIG. 30 showingadjustable pickup arms, jacks, safety pins, pipe boot electric andhydraulic motors;

FIG. 32 is a sectional view of the second embodiment of the apparatus ofthe present invention showing hydraulic motors and gear racks; and

FIG. 33 is a partial, enlarged plan view of the second embodiment of theapparatus of the present invention showing motors, pumps and drivers.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

FIGS. 1-20 show the preferred embodiment of the apparatus of the presentinvention, designated generally by the numeral 10 in FIG. 1. Drill pipetransfer apparatus or “pipe skate: 10 is used with drilling rig 11,enabling the transfer of successive lengths or joints 44 of drill pipethat are stacked and stored in a generally horizontal position on a piperack 15, to an elevated deck or floor 17 of an oil and gas well drillingrig 11 having a base 12 (see FIG. 1).

The apparatus 10 of the present invention provides an optionallyportable pipe skate for the safe transportation of the pipe jointmembers 44 from a horizontal position on pipe rack 15 and thendiagonally to the drilling rig floor 17 and/or to a pipe elevator forvertical positioning (see pipe string P, FIG. 1) before transport intothe well bore.

The apparatus 10 of the present invention includes a main frame 20 thatcan be positioned on the top of a drill rig catwalk 14. The apparatus 10includes folding section 19 with a pair of spaced apart lifting orhoisting rails 21 having one end portion pivotally mounted to the mainframe 20 and a free end portion that rests against the catwalk ramp orrig floor as shown in FIG. 1. The hoisting rails 21 are diagonallypositioned during use as shown in FIG. 3.

The pipe joints 44 are rolled to adjustable pick up arms 31 on the mainframe 20 and then placed into a trough 39 portion. Each pickup arm 31can have a removable stop pin.

A moving trestle 22 travels upon main frame 20 and carries the trough 39and the pipe joint 44, then rises up to the rig floor 17. The trestle 22gradually increases in inclination relative to the horizontal catwalk 14and main frame 20. Once fully inclined, the trestle 22 provides a trough39 that can extend forward from the trestle 22 bringing the pipe joint44 collar 46 to a rig elevator or well bore (see FIGS. 8-11).

The rear of the trough 39 can be raised by means of a scissor hydraulicmechanism 24 (see FIG. 11), thus lowering the pipe collar 46 to aworkable height or into pipe elevators on the rig 11. The pipe joint 44is moved forward in the trough 39 in the direction of arrow 34 in FIG.11 by a traveling safety boot 40. The rig 11 crown block 18 (or otherlifting device) can than raise the pipe joint 44 to a vertical positionabove the well bore or pipe string P.

Extracting pipe joints 44 from pipe string P that extends into the wellrequires a reverse process as each pipe joint 44 is returned to ahorizontal position on the pipe rack 15. Multiple layers of pipe joints44 can be stacked on the same rack 15 with main frame 20 jacks 30.

The present invention provides transportation of heavy tubular pipemembers 44 (and optionally tools) from the pipe racks 15 to the rigfloor 17 or well bore and back. Such tools can be short subs, reamers,drill bits or pipe handling tools. The apparatus 10 includes a mainframe 20 that can be a light weight lattice truss or like frame. Themain frame 20 is supported upon a plurality of (e.g. hydraulic) jacks30.

A plurality of adjustable pick-up arms 31 are provided that can be usedfor transferring each joint 44, one at a time to the trough portion 39of the apparatus 10 (see FIG. 19). The jacks 30 raise and lower the mainframe 20 for easy stacking and unstacking of pipe joints 44. Theadjustable pick-up arms 31 can either lift pipe joints 44 to the trough39 or can be used as lay-down ramps when returning pipe joints 44 to theracks 15 (see FIG. 20).

The main frame 20 includes a folding section 19 that can be in the formof hoisting rails that can be folded into a collapsed position on themain frame 20 (for transport) or rotated upon pivot 37 to an inclinedposition (see arrow 24 FIG. 3) so that a free end portion of thehoisting rails 21 rests against the drill rig floor 17.

The trough trestle 22 can be gear driven, having a front end portionthat travels up the hoisting rails of folding section 19. The trestle 22has a rear end portion that engages and travels upon the base section20. The trestle 22 can be gear driven front and rear as it progressesdown the base section 20 and up the rails 21 of folding section 19during an elevation of each pipe section 44 diagonally to a height justabove the rig floor 17.

The trough trestle 22 thus begins at a horizontal position where it isentirely disposed upon the main frame 20. However, as the trestle 22moves toward the rig floor 17, its front end portion climbs the rails 21of the folding section 19 using a hydraulically powered pair of piniongears that register in 26, 26A, 26B toothed racks 35 on the liftingrails 21.

The rear end of the trough trestle 22 provides hydraulically drivenpinion gears that engage toothed rack 38 portions on the main frame 20.While the front of the trestle 22 climbs up the inclined hoisting rails21, the rear of the trestle 22 moves in a horizontal plane upon mainframe 20, approaching the drilling rig 11, but not changing inelevation. The effect of this action is to gradually increase theinclination of the trestle 22 as it moves from a starting, entirelyhorizontal position adjacent to the pipe rack 15 to a final inclinedposition with its front end adjacent to the rig floor 17 (see FIGS. 1and 3).

Once a joint 44 of pipe is elevated slightly above the rig floor 17, thepipe skate 10 operator can advance the trough 39 forward on the trestle22, moving the pipe joint 44 to the rig elevator or close to rotarytable 16 or well bore so that the joint 44 can then be added to pipestring P. On very large rigs 11 where the bore hole is some distancefrom the edge of the rig floor 17, the pipe collar 46 can prove to be atan unworkable height at the time it reaches the elevator. Therefore, therear of the trough 39 can be elevated with respect to the trestle 22using a hydraulic or pneumatically operated scissors mechanism 24 (seeFIG. 11) that lowers the front of the pipe or pipe collar 46 to aposition next to rotary table 16 or next to the rig elevator. To aid ina solution to this problem, a traveling safety boot 40 at the rear ofthe trough 39 can be used to accommodate varying lengths of pipe (e.g.particularly casing).

The trough 39 can be provided with air operated kickers or eject pins 23that eject the pipe 44 from the trough 39 and then down to lay arms 31and then to the pipe rack 15. Safety pins can be provided at location 42in the form of a plurality of pop-up air pins on each side of the trough39 to contain or stabilize the pipe joint 44 when it is in the trough 39(see FIG. 6). The stop pins 42 can be installed at various places on thetrough 39 top surface to stop the pipe from rolling off the trough 39during operation. Stop pins can by hydraulically, manually, orpneumatically operated to pop up or retract.

Traveling safety boot 40 is placed at the rear of the trough 39 for thepipe joint 44 to butt-up against. Safety boot 40 can travel forward andback to accommodate varying lengths of drill pipe joint 44 or to pushpipe forward. The safety boot 40 can be provided with a stationary airpin in the center. This stationary air pin stabs into the rear of thepipe joint 44 bore to prevent it from exiting the trough 39 except inthe proper forward motion. Manual boots 40 can be placed in the troughfor picking up short pipe subs and smaller drilling equipment.

The present invention 10 thus provides an improved pipe handlingapparatus for transferring successive lengths of drill pipe 44 that arestored in a generally horizontal position on a lower elevation pipe rack15, to an elevated deck or floor 17 of an oil and gas well drilling rig11.

The apparatus 10 includes an elongated main frame 20 with front and rearend portions and a folding section 19 that pivots upon the front endportion of the base section between inclined 19 (FIGS. 1 and 3) andfolded (FIG. 7) positions.

In the folded position (FIG. 7), the folding section 19 nests on thebase section 20. In the inclined position, the folded section 19 formsan obtuse angle with the base section 20.

The folding section 19 has spaced apart, parallel hoisting rails 21 anda free end portion. In the inclined position, the free end portion isextendable to the elevated deck 17 of the oil and gas well drilling rig11. For example, the free end portion of the folding section 19 cansimply rest against the drill rig deck 17 as a support. The foldingsection 19 includes a pair of opposed hoisting rails 21.

The frame 20 includes a moving trestle 22 section having front and rearportions. The trestle section 22 is movable upon the combination of theframe 20 and the folded section 19 between an lower position that neststhe trestle 22 section upon the frame 20 and an upper position thatpositions the front end portion of the trestle 22 near the free end ofthe folded section 19 when the folded section is inclined (FIG. 1).

The trestle section 22 thus forms a triangle with the folding 19 andframe 20 sections when the trestle 22 moves to the upper position ofFIGS. 1 and 10, 11, wherein the front end portion of the trestle 22section engages the folding section 19 and the rear portion of thetrestle 22 engages the frame 20.

A pipe joint 44 carrying skate member or trough 39 is mounted upon thetrestle 22 section and is movable along the length thereof betweenextended and retracted positions.

A conveyor arrangement can be used to transport the trestle 22 upon theframe 20 and folding 19 sections between upper and lower position whenthe folding section 19 is in the inclined position of FIG. 1, so thatthe trestle section 22 forms a gradually increasing acute angle with theframe 20 moving from the lower (FIGS. 12-13) to the upper position(FIGS. 1, 10-11).

In the preferred embodiment, powered pinion gears engage toothed racks27 on the inclined rails 21 of the folding section 19. Pinion gears alsoengage toothed racks 38 on the main frame 20.

FIG. 1 shows generally the preferred embodiment of the apparatus of thepresent invention designated by the numeral 10. In FIG. 10 there can beseen a drilling rig 11 having a base 12, derrick 13, catwalk 14. Thedrill rig 11 has a rotary table 16 and a crown block 18. Pipe rack 15holds a plurality of drill pipe joints 44 as shown in FIG. 1. Each joint44 of drill pipe has bore 49, pin end 48, and a box end or collar 46.

The apparatus 10 of the present invention is used for transporting apipe joint 44 upwardly to the rig floor 17 and presenting a collar endportion 46 of the drill pipe to the personnel that are operating thedrill rig and which occupy a position about the rotary table 16.

In FIGS. 1-3, the apparatus 10 of the present invention includes a mainframe 20 and a folding section 19. Main frame 20 sits upon catwalk 14and is supported by means of a plurality of telescoping (e.g. hydraulic)cylinder jacks 30. Jacks 30 enable frame 20 to be raised and lowered.The jacks 30 can be raised or lowered depending upon the level of pipejoints 44 that occupy a position upon pipe rack 15 to enable easytransfer of joints 44 between rack 15 and trough 39. The pipe joints 44can often be stacked many layers deep so that the elevation of the toplayer of joints of pipe 44 varies during drilling operations. In FIGS.2-3, the drill rig 11 and its upper deck 17 are shown with the mainframe 20, its folding section 19 that carries hoisting rails 21.

In FIG. 2, the main frame 20 remains in horizontal position while thefolding section 19 is rotated as shown by the curved arrow in FIG. 3 tothe inclined position shown. In FIGS. 3, 4 and 5 safety chains 47 can beused to secure the uppermost end portion of folding section 19 to therig 11 at upper deck 17 as shown.

FIGS. 4 and 5 illustrate the position of main frame 20 and inclinedsection 19 when the trestle 22 is in a horizontal position such as whena pipe joint 44 is being transferred from pipe rack 15 to trestle 22. InFIG. 5, a pipe joint 44 has been moved with pick up arms 31 to thetrough 39 portion of trestle 22.

FIGS. 4-5 and 10-11 illustrate delivery of a joint of pipe 44 to the rigfloor 17. Trestle 22 begins in a generally horizontal position (FIG. 5)and then moves forward using powered (e.g. hydraulic motor), drivenpinion gears 26 of the trestle 22 that engage toothed racks 38 providedon the main frame 20 and toothed racks 27 provided on the hoisting rails21 of folding section 19. In FIG. 10, trestle 22 has moved to a forwardposition where its inclination of trestle 22 is greatest. In thisposition, a drill pipe joint 44 can be advanced in the direction of thearrow 25 in FIG. 10 using traveling safety boot 40. In order to presentthe collar 46 end of pipe joint 44 to the rig deck 17 and to the workersat rotary table 16, a scissor apparatus 24 elevates trestle 22 andtrough 39 as shown by the curved arrow 33 in FIG. 11. Scissor apparatus24 places the trough 39 in a generally horizontal position. Thetraveling safety boot 40 then moves forward in the direction of arrow 34in FIG. 11 to present the pipe joint 44, collar end 46 to thedrillers/personnel on the rig deck or floor 17.

FIGS. 12-14 show the main frame 20 and its folding section 19 in moredetail. In FIGS. 12-13, jacks 30 are shown supporting main frame 20 asit sits upon catwalk 14. Safety chains 45 can be used to form aconnection between lower end of main frame 20 and the upper surface ofcatwalk 14.

Pick up arms 31 are shown in FIGS. 13 and 19-20. The pick up arms 31 canbe a hydraulically operated to a lift pipe joint 44 from the pipe rack15 and transfer each such pipe joint 44 one at a time to thelongitudinal slot 43 on the upper surface of trough 39, so that eachjoint 44 can then be elevated to the rig floor 17.

In FIGS. 14-20, further details of construction of main frame 20,trestle 22, and trough 39 are shown. Trestle 22 has a pair of opposedc-shaped beams 35. Each beam 35 provides a toothed rack 36 that engagespinion gear rollers 26B attached to trough 39. Pinion gears 26A ontrestle 22 engage toothed racks 38 on main frame 20. In FIGS. 19-20, theoutermost pinion gears 26A travel in a toothed rack 38 on main frame 20.Pinion gears 26A are provided at the rear of the trestle 22 and travelin toothed rack 38 on main frame 20 thus driving the rear portion oftrestle 22 as it travels toward the rig 11. Pinion gears 26A can behydraulically powered with motor drives 28 (e.g. hydraulic motors) andpumps 29 or other drive system.

There are two additional pinion gears 26A that support the front oftrestle 22. The front pair of outer pinion gears 26A engage toothed rack27 of folding section 19. The innermost pinion gears 26B are mountedwith axle 41 to trough 39 to support trough 39 and move itforward/backward within the C-shaped beam members 35 of trestle 22. Thusthe pinion gears 26B move the trough 39 forward or backward with respectto trestle 22.

In FIGS. 7-10 and 15-16, traveling safety boot 40 is shown having asafety pin 50 that can be activated or deactivated to engage the pipebore 49. The traveling safety boot 40 can be moved forward or backwardrelative to the rig floor 17 when the apparatus 10 is in the positionshown in FIGS. 1 and 11, using a threaded rod 51 and internally threadedsleeve 71. Rotation of the rod 51 in one direction moves the boot 40 inone direction and vice versa. In FIG. 15, the safety pin 50 is in adeactivated position. In FIG. 16, the safety pin 50 has been advancedand occupies a position within bore 49 of pipe joint 44.

FIGS. 17 and 18 show more particularly the scissor mechanism 24 that canbe used to elevate trough 39 relative to trestle 22. A collapsedposition of scissor assembly 24 shown in FIG. 17. An expandedoperational position is shown in FIG. 18. Hydraulic cylinder 52 can beused to activate and deactivate the scissor assembly 24. A pinion gear53 at the bottom of scissor 24 engages a toothed rack 36 of trestle 22.

FIGS. 21-33 show a second embodiment of the apparatus of the presentinvention, designated generally by the numeral 55. Drill pipe transferapparatus 55 can be used to transfer joints 44 of drill pipe between apipe rack 15 and a drill rig 11 as with the first embodiment of FIGS.1-20. In FIGS. 21-33 catwalk 57 replaces the catwalk 14 of FIG. 1.Catwalk 57 can include main frame skate 58.

Jacks 56 support main frame 58 and can elevate or lower it. Main frame58 supports trough 69 which can support a pivotally attached forwardelevator section or rail(s) 68 that moves between a folded position(FIG. 22) and an unfolded, operating position (FIG. 23).

Pick up arms 59 can be of adjustable length, providing sections thattelescope to change length. In FIG. 31, arm 59 can have inner section60, outer section 61 (or sleeve), adjustment openings 63, and removablelocking pin 64 that fits through aligned openings 63 on sections 60, 61to define their length.

In FIGS. 24 and 31, pick up arms 59 are shown moving a pipe joint 44toward trough 67. In FIGS. 25-26 and 31, 33, pipe joint 44 is in thetransport position on trough 67. FIG. 27 shows a pipe joint 44 andsupporting trough 67 traveling to drilling rig 11 upon trestle 69 andforward section as indicated by arrows 72, 73/rail(s) 68.

Main frame 54 supports trestle 69 which supports trough 67. The secondembodiment of FIGS. 21-33 also provides a safety boot 70 as with thefirst embodiment. A hydraulic drive can power both the trough 67 andtrestle 69. Pins 71 prevent escape of a pipe joint 44 from trestle 69.Pins 71 are preferably hydraulically or pneumatically operated to extendabove surface 66 or to retract to a position at or below surface 66.FIG. 28 can be the same configuration as FIG. 14.

The following table lists the parts numbers and parts descriptions asused herein and in the drawings attached hereto.

PARTS LIST Part Number Description P pipe string 10 portable drill pipetransfer apparatus/pipe skate 11 drilling rig 12 base 13 derrick 14 catwalk 15 pipe rack 16 rotary table 17 rig floor 18 crown block 19 foldingsection 20 main frame 21 hoisting rails 22 trestle 23 eject pin/kicker24 scissors mechanism 25 arrow 26 pinion gear   26A pinion gear   26Bpinion gear 27 toothed rack/folding section 28 motor drive 29 pumps 30jack 31 pick up arms 32 motor drive 33 arrow 34 arrow 35 beam member 36toothed rack/trestle 37 pivot 38 toothed rack/main frame 39 trough 40traveling safety boot 41 axle 42 safety pin/location 43 longitudinalslot trough 44 pipe joint 45 safety chain 46 collar 47 safety chain 48pin end 49 pipe bore 50 safety air pin 51 threaded shaft 52 hydrauliccylinder 53 pinion gear 54 hydraulic tanks 55 drill pipe transferapparatus 56 jack 57 catwalk 58 main frame skate 59 pick up arm 60 innersection 61 outer section 62 catch pin 63 adjustment opening 64 lockingpin 65 lift cylinder 66 upper surface 67 trough 68 elevator rail 69trough trestle 70 safety boot 71 popup safety pins 72 arrow 73 arrow

Because many varying and different embodiments may be made within thescope of the inventive concept herein taught, and because manymodifications may be made in the embodiments herein detailed inaccordance with the descriptive requirement of the law, it is to beunderstood that the details herein are to be interpreted as illustrativeand not in a limiting sense.

1. A pipe handling apparatus for transferring successive lengths of pipethat are stored in a generally horizontal position on a pipe rack to anelevated deck of an oil and gas well drilling rig, comprising; a) anelongated frame that includes a base section with front and rear endportions and a folding section that pivots upon the front end portion ofthe base section between inclined and folded positions; b) wherein inthe inclined position the folded section forms an obtuse angle with thebase section; c) wherein the folding section has a free end portion andin the inclined position the free end portion is extendable to theelevated deck of the oil and gas well drilling rig; d) the frameincluding a moving trestle section having front and rear end portions,the trestle section being movable upon the combination of the base andfolded section between a lower position and an upper position thatpositions the front end portion of the trestle near the free end portionof the folded section when the folding section is in the inclinedposition; e) wherein the trestle section forms a triangle frame geometrywith the folding and base sections when the trestle moves to the upperposition, wherein the front end of the trestle section engages thefolding section and the rear portion of the trestle engages the centralportion of the base section; f) a pipe carrying skate mounted upon thetrestle section and movable upon the trestle between extended andretracted positions; and g) a conveyor that transports the trestle uponthe base between upper and lower positions when the folding section isin the inclined position, wherein the trestle section forms a graduallyincreasing acute angle with the base section when moving from the lowerto the upper position.
 2. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the conveyorincludes toothed rack portions on the base section and folding sectionof the elongated frame and one or more pinion gears at the end portionsof the trestle section that engage the toothed rack.
 3. The apparatus ofclaim 2 wherein at least some of the pinion gears are powered.
 4. Theapparatus of claim 1 wherein the pipe carrying skate slides upon thetrestle section.
 5. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the pipe carryingskate is powered to move into an angular position relative to thetrestle, enabling the pipe to be placed in a generally horizontalposition.
 6. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein there is further provideda plurality of jacks that enable the elongated frame to be elevated intomultiple elevational positions.
 7. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein theelongated frame includes a base section with a pair of spaced a parttoothed racks thereon and the folding section includes a pair of rails,each having a toothed rack thereon, and wherein the toothed rackportions of the base section and folding section are aligned so that thetrestle can travel from the base section to the inclined section on thealigned toothed racked portions, and wherein the trestle is providedwith toothed geared portions that engage the toothed rack portions. 8.The apparatus of claim 1 further comprising a plurality of pins thatenable a joint of pipe to be supported upon the skate.
 9. The apparatusof claim 1 further comprising a traveling boot that carries a projectingpin portion for securing a pipe joint at its pipe joint bore when thepipe joint is on the skate.
 10. The apparatus of claim 1 furthercomprising a plurality of jacks that support the base section, the jacksenabling the elevation of the base section to be varied.
 11. A pipehandling apparatus for transferring successive lengths of drill pipethat are stored in generally horizontal positions on a pipe rack to anelevated deck of an oil and gas well drilling rig that is at a muchhigher elevation than the pipe rack comprising; a) an elongated linearstructural frame that includes a base section with front and rear endportions, an inclined section that is attached to the front end portionof the base section forming an obtuse angle with the base section, and atrestle section that is supported upon the base and inclined sectionsfor travel between inclined and horizontal positions, wherein in thehorizontal position the trestle section nests on the base section; b)wherein the inclined section has a free end portion that extends to theelevated deck of the oil and gas well drilling rig; c) the trestlesection having front and rear end portions, the trestle section beingmovable upon the combination of the base and folded sections between alower position that nests the trestle section upon the base section andan upper position that positions the front end portion of the trestlenear the free end portion of the folded section; d) wherein the trestlesection forms a triangle with the folding and base sections when thetrestle moves to the upper position, wherein the front end of thetrestle section engages the folding section and the rear portion of thetrestle engages the central portion of the base section; e) a pipecarrying skate member mounted upon the trestle section and movable alongthe length thereof between extended and retracted positions; and f) aconveyor that transports the trestle upon the base and folding sectionsbetween upper and lower positions when the folding section is in theinclined position so that the trestle section forms a graduallyincreasing acute angle with the base section when moving from the lowerto the upper position.
 12. The inventions substantially as shown anddescribed herein.